FAA Fixes Airbus Freezing Fog Taxi Rules in Flight Manuals
Published Date: 3/26/2025
Proposed Rule
Summary
The FAA wants all Airbus A350-941 and -1041 planes to update their flight manuals because the current ones give wrong info about how long planes can taxi in freezing fog. This change helps pilots follow safer rules and avoid problems. Comments on this proposal are open until May 12, 2025, and it could mean some quick updates but no big costs.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Airlines must update A350 flight manuals
If you operate or fly on an Airbus A350-941 or A350-1041, the FAA proposes you must revise the aircraft flight manual (AFM) to correct the maximum cumulative taxi time in freezing fog. The change follows EASA AD 2024-0190 (dated October 10, 2024; corrected October 11, 2024) because the previous AFM value could lead to multiple engine surges during critical flight phases and possibly loss of control.
Estimated low paperwork cost for U.S. operators
The FAA estimates this AD would affect 32 U.S.-registered A350 airplanes and would take 1 work-hour per airplane at $85 per hour, for a cost of $85 per airplane and $2,720 on U.S. operators in total. This estimate reflects the AFM revision action described in the proposed AD.
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Key Dates
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